Control unit for steam generators



y 28, 3 c. F. ERIKSON 2,646,751

CONTROL UNIT FOR STEAM GENERATORS Filed May 20, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 421. F. ER/KSO/V.

Wm swag/1 ATTORN EY July 28, 1953 c. F. ERIKSON CONTROL UNIT FOR STEAM GENERATORS Filed ma 20 1950 July 28, 1953 c. F. ERIKSON CONTROL UNIT FOR STEM GENERATGRS Filed May '20, 1950 INVENTOR 614/? F Ea/4450M my M454,

ATTORN EY July 28, 19 5 3 CLFI-ERIKSGN 2,646,

CONTROL UNiT FOR STEAM GENERATORS Filed may 20; 1950' e srieevs saeet 4 l N V E N TO R 6%; A imam/v.

ATTORN EY July 28, 1953 c. F. ERIKSQN CONTROL UNIT FOR STEAM GENERATORS 6--Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 20, 1950 WW, A

July 28, 1953 c. F. ERIKSON CONTROL UNIT FOR STEAM GENERATORS 6 heets-Sheet 6 Filed May 20, 1950 I lull] 54m A f/P/ASOM Mia/1%,

ATTO R N EY Patented July 28, "1953 UNITED STATES CONTROL UNIT FOR STEAM GENERATORS- Carl F. Erikson, White Plains, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Nathan Manufacturing Corp., a corporation of New York Application May 20, 1950, Serial No. 163,242

12 Claims.

This invention relates to controls for steam generators of the oil-fired type. With generators of this kind a water feeding device to supply water to the coils of the generator and a fuel oil feeding device to supply oil to the burner of the generator must be coordinated to furnish Water and oil in certain proportions to suit various operating conditions. It is also customary in such generators to inject a chemical agent into the water for conditioning it, also to provide for proper adjustment of the air supply to the burner. Heretofore these various devices performed separately and individual controls for each of them had to be provided for their proper adjustment.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide for generators of the kinddescribed, a unitary control unit by means of which, with a single adjustment, water can be fed to the generator, a chemical solution can be injected into the water, fuel oil can be supplied to the generator, and the admission of air for proper combustion into the oil burner of the generator can be regulated, all in certain predetermined proportions to each other.

Another object is to provide a unit of this kind with simple means for actuating the feeding devices from a rotary drive.

Still another object is to provide water feeding devices in the form of reciprocating pumps in which the end positions of the forcing strokes will always be the same for varying adjustments to effect complete discharge and to make them especially applicable for handling hot water.

A further object is to provide means for ready observation of the degree of adjustment of the various feeding devices of the unit. I

A further object is to provide a single base for the feeding devices within which the actuating means and the adjusting mechanism are located, and in which a considerable amount of piping is eliminated by means of manifolds within the base.

A still further object is to provide such a structure which is simple to manipulate, efficient in operation, and one which can be produced at relatively low cost.

Still further objects will become apparent in the following specification and the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown and in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view, partly in section, of a unit embodying the principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, with thecovers removed, and showing certain details of the connection between two pumps;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view along the plane of line 33 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the connectin stud between the two pumps;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view, similar to Fig. 1, but showing a portion of the base in section to illustrate the actuating mechanism within the base;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, along the plane of line 6-6 in Fig. 1;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, partly in elevation, of the actuating mechanism in the base, similar to Fig.. 5, showing the mechanism at maximum stroke;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. '7, but showing the mechanism at one-half of the maximum stroke;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, along the plane of line 99 in Fig. 5;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view, partly in elevation, along the plane of line Ill-I0 in Fig. 7; and

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a fulcrum pin forming part of the adjusting feature of the actuating mechanism.

Like characters of reference denote similar parts throughout the several drawings and the following specification.

' 20is a substantially rectangular hollow base having lugs 2! for fastening it to a floor and a raised central block 22 at its top.

At the left side of central block 22 is mounted a pair of water pumps 23 and 24 of the usual single acting piston types well known in the art. The detail construction of these pumps does not come within the scope of this application and they are therefore shown in exterior views only, more or less diagrammatically. In these pumps, as shown in Fig. 2, 25 and 26 are inlets, and 21 and 28 are outlets connected by ducts to a common outlet 29. 3E! and 3| are piston rods projecting from the pump housing. Immediately below pumps 23 and 24 is a channel 32 in the top 'of'the base 29 which has a threaded inlet 33 at the rear of the base and a correspondingly threaded inlet 34 at the adjacent side of the base closed by a plug 35. Inlets 25 and 25 of the pumps are in communication with channel 32. This provides for one inlet for both pumps which may be located at either the back or the side of the base, the one not desired being closed by plug 35. 33 is a channel in the top of the base immediately below common outlet 29 of the water pumps with which it is in communication.

- Channel 36 extends through the width of the base and is optionally closed at one end by a plug 3?, providing for an outlet for both pumps either at the front or the back of the base accord.- ing to the position of the plug.

At the right side of block 22 of the base is mounted a pair of fuel oil pumps 38 and 39, aligned with oppositel disposed pair of water pumps 23 and 24. These fuel oil pumps are also shown more or less diagrammatically, their construction being well known in the art. 46 and M are inlets of the pumps and 42 and 43 are outlets connected by ducts to a common outlet 44. 45 and 46 are piston rods projecting from the pump housings. Immediately below these pumps in the top of the base is a channel 4! with which inlets 49 and 4! are in communication. This channel terminates in a threaded inlet connection 48 at the back of the base. 49 is a similar connection at right angles to channel 4'! and in communication therewith and closed by a plug 56, so that by locating plug 50 in either connection 48 or 49, an inlet for the pumps may be provided for at either the back or the side of the base whichever is most convenient. 5I is a channel in the top of the base at a plane somewhat lower than channel 4'! and in communication with common outlet is of the fuel oil pumps. 52 is a threaded terminal of channel 51 at the back of the base and 53 a similar terminal at the side of the base, closed by a plug 54, and in communication with channel Si by a duct 55, this duct also being at a plane lower than channel 41 so as to clear it. Plug 54 may be used for closing either one of the terminals, so that an outlet is provided for the pumps at either of two different sides of the base.

56 is a diagrammatic representation of a water treatment pump adapted to feed a water conditioning agent into the water discharged by pumps 23 and 24. Pump 53 is mounted on base 26 alongside of pump 24. A piston rod 51 of pump 56 is connected by a stud 58 to piston rod (H. The end of rod 57 is hook-shaped at 59 to fit over a flattened end portion 60 of stud 58. 6! is an inlet of pump 56 in communication with a channel 62 in the top of base 29. Channel 62 terminates in a threaded connection 63 at the side of the base and is in communication with a similar channel 64 at right angles thereto which is closed at the front face of the base by a plug 65. By changing the position of plug 65, from the one shown in Fig. 2 to threaded connection 63, it is obvious that an inlet for water treatment pump at can be provided for either at the side or the front of the base. An outlet 66 of pump 56 is in direct communication with water outlet channel 36. The size of pump is so proportioned that it discharges a predetermined ratio of conditioning agent to the amount of water discharged by pumps 23 and 24.

E? and 68 are shafts supported by central block 22 of base 29 and slidably disposed within bushings 69 in the block. Ihese shafts are in axial alignment with piston rods 36 and 3| of the water pumps and piston rods 45 and 45 of the fuel oil pumps, respectively. Thus shaft it? connects rods 36 and 45, and shaft 68 connects rods 3| and 4B. Stud 58 serves with its round portions I0 and H to pin one end of shaft 88 to piston rod 3|, while a hook-shaped end 72 of piston rod 3i fits over a flattened part '53 between portions in and TI, as shown in Fig. 3. The other end of shaft 63 is fastened to a hook-shaped terminal I4 of piston rod 4% of fuel oil pump 39, in alignment with water pump 24, by means of a stud 15. Similarly one end of shaft 51 is connected to a hook-shaped end it of rod 30 by means of a stud Ti, and its other end to a hookshaped terminal I8 and rod 46 by means of a stud I9.

These hook-shaped terminals are in the form of transverse slots open at the bottom as indicated in Figure 5, and they fit snugly over the transverse studs at the ends of the sliding shafts. This arrangement makes it possible to remove either of the pump units bodil by merely lifting it vertically from the base after the holding cap screws are removed, and contributes substantially to economy in making repairs and replacements.

Transversely across base 2i; is a crank shaft having one end supported by a flange SE at the front of the base and its other end in a socket 82 at the back wall of the base. Adjacent its front bearing crank shaft 8%} has keyed to it a worm wheel 33. Toward the rear shaft 89 has two crank pins 84 and 85 eccentrically disposed with respect to its axis and 180 degrees apart radially.

86 is a drive shaft extending vertically from base 20 supported by a flange 8? at the top of the base and in a suitable socket at its bottom. A worm 88 is mounted on the drive shaft and engages worm wheel 83.

89 and 9?] are eccentric rods mounted, respectively, on crank pins 84 and 85. Pivotally secured at 9| to eccentric rod 89 is the lower end of a pitman 92 and similarly at 93 to eccentric rod the lower end of a pitman 94. Pitman 92 is formed by two parallel bars which straddle eccentric rod 39. The upper ends of bars 95 straddle shaft 58 and are pivotally secured thereto at 96. Similarly pitman 94 consists of two parallel bars 9? straddling eccentric rod 90 and their upper ends straddling shaft 67 to which they are pivotally fastened at 9B.

Transversely across base 20 and supported between bearings 99 and IE9 is an adjusting shaft Iii! having its ends extend exteriorly from the front and back of the base. Keyed to the shaft IIlI within the base and between bearings 99 and H10 is a sleeve I82 which has arms H33 and I04 extending therefrom in a lateral direction. Arm I03 terminates in a cylindrical fulcrum E85, its ends slidingly disposed between bars 95 of pitman 92. I06 is a rotatable pin within fulcrum I05, extending at both ends thereof and having transverse grooves IIl'I within which bars $5 are adapted to slide, as shown in Fig. 11. Similarly arm I04 terminates in a cylindrical fulcrum I08 which has its ends slidingly disposed between bars 9? of pitman 94. I $9 is a rotatable pin within fulcrum I68 projecting from both its ends and having transverse grooves IIO within which bars 9'3 are adapted to slide. I I I is another arm extending from sleeve :82 downwardly and having fastened to it a pin 5 52 with a ball-shaped end II3.

At the lower left handside of base 20 is a cylindrical cavity II4, within which a sleeve H5 is adapted to be reciprocated by means of a manually operated spindle IIB, screw threaded in a bonnet II! and held to the sleeve by a nut IIB. An opening I59 near the inner end of sleeve H5 is provided for to receive ball-shaped terminal I I3 of pin II 2 forming part of downwardly extending arm II I of adjusting sleeve I62.

At the front end of the base and surrounding the outwardl extended end of adjusting shaft IBI and, preferably, forming part of bearing 99 is a dial plate I20 provided with markings I2I indicative of the position of the adjustment of pitmans 92 and 94 as will be explained more in detail hereinafter. I22 is an indicating finger keyed to the adjusting shaft adapted to indicate the adjustment by pointing to markings I2I. Either end of adjusting shaft IOI can be connected by levers, chainsor weights, in a manner well-known in the art, to a damper controlling the admission of air into the oil burner of the generator. I

I23 and I24 are covers on the top of the base over, respectively, the water pumps and water treatment pump, and the fuel oil pumps. I25 is an inlet cap for pouring oil-into the base for lubricating purposes. The front of the base is provided with a gauge glass I 26 for indicating the desired oil level within the base.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The unit is connected to an oil-fired steam generator in a manner referred to later.

Drive shaft 86, operated by a suitable motor (not shown), causes the worm 88 to rotate crank shaft 80. During this rotation, as shown in Fig. 5, eccentric rod 89 mounted upon crank pin 84 is about to begin its forward travel, 1. e. toward the left. This causes pitman 92, which is pivotally secured to the forward end of the eccentric rod, to be oscillated about pin I06 in fulcrum I05. The upper end of pitman 92, pivotally fastened at 96 to sliding shaft 68, moves rearwardly or to the right causing sliding shaft 68 to move in the same direction, as also indicated by an arrow in Fig. 5. The left hand end of the sliding shaft being connected to piston rod 3| of water pump 24 and to piston rod 51 of water treatment pump 56 causes these piston rods to make an outward or suction stroke. The right hand end of sliding shaft 68 in the meantime. by its connection to piston rod 46 of fuel oil pump 39, causes this rod to make a forcing stroke in this pump.

While this takes place, eccentric rod 90 travels in an opposite direction, i. e. as shown in Fig. 5, eccentric rod 90 begins its rearward travel or to the left. This causes pitman 94 which is pivotally secured to the end of eccentric rod 90 to be oscillated about pin I09 within fulcrum I08. The upper end of pitman 94 being pivotally fastened at 98 to sliding shaft 61 now begins to move forwardly or to the left, as indicated in dotted lines by an arrow in Fig. 5. The right hand end of sliding shaft 61 being connected to piston rod 45 of fuel oil pump 38 and the left hand end of the shaft being connected to piston rod 30 of water pump 23 causes the fuel oil pump 38 to make a suction stroke and the water pump 23 to make a forcing stroke. It is clear, therefore, that sliding shafts 61 and 68 travel in opposite directions by virtue of the radial disposition of the crank pins 180 degrees apart which forces one eccentric rod to travel forwardly while the other travels rearwardly. This results in continuous discharge from the pair of water pumps and the pair of fuel oil pumps.

Water is admitted into channel 32 from either the side or the back of the base, according to the position of plug 35, to the inlets 25 and 26of pumps 23 and 24. The discharge from these pumps is, preferably, channeled into one outlet 29 which communicates with outlet channnel 36 from which it is piped to the coils of the generator from' either the front or back of base 20 according to the position of plug 31.

Water treatment pump 56 receives the conditioning agent from either the front or the side of the base by admission to'channel 62 according to the position of plug 65. The discharge from this pump from outlet 66 is directed into channel 36 connecting the outlets of pumps 23 and 24, so that 6 the conditioning agent will be mixed with the water discharged by the pumps in channel 36 within the base.

Fuel oil pumps 38 and 39 also have optional inlets and outlets at different sides of base 20 by changing the position of plug 50 or 54. The outlet from these pumps is piped directly to the oil burner of the generator.

It is to be noted that the proportions of discharge of water and fuel oil pumps are predetermined to obtain maximum efficiency for the needs of the steam generator under varying conditions. The discharge of the conditioning agent into the water is also predetermined for best results.

One of the characteristics of the device is that the discharge from the pumps can be regulated by adjusting the travel of sliding shafts 61 and 68 which in turn reduces or increases the strokes of the pumps. Reference is now made to Figs. '7 and 8 which show the adjustment of a sliding shaft in a nearly maximum and a nearly minimum position, respectively.

In Fig. '1, pitman 94 is shown in the position which is illustrated in Fig. 5. y indicates the travel of sliding shaft 61 due to the position of fulcrum I08 around which the pitman oscillates. This is approximately the maximum travel of the sliding shaft and this fact is indicated by finger I22 pointing to 1 on dial plate I20, as shown in Fig. 1. Should it be desired to reduce the travel of the sliding shaft, spindle II6 of the adjusting mechanism is screwed inwardly. As shown in Fig. 8, sleeve I I5 has now moved pin I I 2 in arm III toward the right which caused arm I04 to move upwardly. This also moves fulcrum I08 upwardly reducing the distance between the fulcrum and connection 98 at sliding shaft 61. Pitman 94 which now is oscillated around this raised position of fulcrum I08 causes sliding shaft 61 to travel a relatively small distance indicated as y. The position shown in Fig. 8 will then be indicated on dial plate I20 by finger I22 pointing to the marking /2. Fulcrums I05 and I00 being in the same positions relative to adjusting shaft IM and fastened thereto, it is obvious that sliding shafts 61 and 68 will both be adjusted simultaneously and to the same degree.

In pumps handling water and particularly hot water, it is important that the pistons at the discharge stroke expel most of the water from the piston chamber leaving as little clearance beween piston and the end of the piston chamber aspossible at the end of the discharge stroke. This object is accomplished in the device described herein by returning piston rods 30 and 3I of water pumps 23 and 24 always to'nearly the same positions at the end of the forcing stroke. Movable fulcrum I08, for instance, describes a segment of a circle about adjusting shaft IOI. This segment is approximately along the center line of pitman 94 when in the minimum position and is so disposed that at the extreme ends of the strokes at maximum or minimum adjustment sliding shaft 61 is returned always to the same position. The end of sliding shaft 61 with such adjustments is indicated in Figs. '1 and 8 as "x and '11:, respectively. At this point, piston rod 30 has reached its innermost position. At strokes adjusted to points between maximum and minimum, the end clearance within the pump may be slightly greater on account of the curvature of the segmental path of fulcrum I08, but only to such a small degree as to be negligible for practical purposes. The variation of the stroke of the water pump is, therefore, from essentially the same point at the end of the forcing stroke to a point at the end of the suction stroke which varies according to the adjustment. This condition is not necessary in the fuel oil pump, the piston rod of which is fastened to the sliding shaft at its variable end.

Air for combustion is admitted into the oil burner of the generator and is controlled by a damper suitably placed in an air supply duct to the burner. This damper is opened or closed strictly in proportion to the adjustment of the device by having the damper connected to one end of adjusting shaft it! by means of levers, chains, weights, or other means, well known in the art.

I have thus provided in a unitary structure a device which feeds water into a steam generator, a conditioning agent into the water, fuel oil to the burner of the generator, and controls air to the burner, all in certain predetermined proportions to each other, and one which is provided with means to vary the discharge of the water, conditioning agent, fuel oil and air by a single mechanism to suit requirements, while main: taining the same predetermined proportions. The device is extremely simple, easy to install and does not require piping to connect the various components together.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention as shown and described herein is to be taken as a preferred example only, and that various changes in the shape, proportion of parts and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principles or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim as new, is: l. A multi-pump unit comprising a base, a plurality of pumps oppositely mounted thereon,

the pumps having various predetermined ratios of discharge, sliding shafts supported by the base having their ends connected to oppositely mounted pumps, and mechanism within the base for reciprocating the shafts to operate the pumps including a crank shaft, a plurality of eccentric rods on the crank shaft, linkages between the eccentric rods and sliding shafts, and means adjusting all linkages simultaneously to vary the travel of the sliding shafts While maintaining the predetermined ratios of discharge of the pumps.

2. A multi-pump unitas defined in claim 1, the crank shaft having a plurality of crank pins eccentrically disposed with respect to the axis of the crank shaft and radially in angular relation with each other, the eccentric rods being mounted on the crank pins whereby the sliding shafts will be reciprocated out of phase with each other.

3. A multi-pump unit as defined in claim 1, each linkage comprising a pitman having one end pivotally secured to a sliding shaft and its other end to an eccentric rod, a fulcrum for the pitman supported in the base, and a rotatable pin in the fulcrum having a transverse groove, the pitman slidingly engaging the groove.

4. A multi-pump unit as defined in claim 1, each linkage comprising a pitman having one end pivotally secured to a sliding shaft and its other end to an eccentric rod, a fulcrum for the pitman supported in the base and slidably connected to the pitman, the means adjusting all linkages simultaneously including means moving the fulcrum toward the sliding shaft to reduce the travel of the sliding shaft, while moving the 8 fulcrum away from the sliding shaft will increase the travel of the sliding shaft. 4

5. A multi-pump unit as defined in claim 1, each linkage comprising a pitman having one end pivotally secured to a sliding shaft and its other end to an eccentric rod, a fulcrum for the pitmansupported in the base and slidably connected to the pitman, the means adjusting all linkages simultaneously including means moving the fulcrum toward the sliding shaft to reduce the travel of the sliding shaft, while moving the fulcrum away from the sliding shaft will increase the travel of the sliding shaft, the travel of the fulcrum being along substantially the center line of its pitman, whereby the end of the travel of the sliding shaft in one direction will always be the same while the end of the travel of the sliding shaft in an opposite direction will vary according to adjustment.

6. A multi-pump unit as defined in claim 1, each linkage comprising a pitman having one end pivotally secured to a sliding shaft and its other end to an eccentric rod, a rotatable adjusting shaft supported in the base having an arm for each pitman extending from it, fulcrums forming the terminals of each arm, a sliding con nection between each pitman and fulcrum, the distances between the centers of the fulcrums and the adjusting shaft being the same for all linkages, another extending from the adjusting shaft, and an adjusting member in the base engaging the other arm, where by moving the adjusting member toward the pitmans Will move the sliding fulcrums toward the sliding shafts and reduce the travel of the sliding shafts While moving the member away from the pitmans will increase the travel of the sliding shafts.

7. A multi-pump unit as defined in claim 6, the sliding connection including a rotatable pin journalled in the fulcrum extending at both sides thereof and having transverse grooves, the pitman of a linkage comprising a bar at each side of the fulcrum slidingly engaging the grooves.

8. A multi-pump unit comprising a base, a pa of water pumps of the piston type mounted thereon, a water treatment pump operatively connected to one of the water pumps, the water pumps and the water treatment pump having a common outlet channel in the base, a pair of fuel oil pumps of the piston type mounted on the base opposite the pair of water pumps and in alignment therewith, sliding shafts supported by the base having their ends connected to oppositely mounted water and fuel oil pumps, and mechanism within the base for reciprocating the shafts in opposite directions for continuous flow from the water and fuel oil pumps and for varying the travel of the shafts including. a crank shaft having two crank pins ecccentrically disposed with respect to the axis of the crank shaft and radially at an angle of 186 degrees with respect to each other, an eccentric rod mounted on each of the crank pins, a pitman having one end pivotally secured to a sliding shaft and its other end to an eccentric rod, a rotatable adjusting shaft supported in the base having an arm for each pitman extending from it, fulcrums forming the terminals of each arm, a rotatable D journalled in each fulcrum extending at both sides thereof and having transverse grooves, the pitman comprising a bar at each side of the fulcrum slidingly engaging the grooves of the rotatable pin, the distances between the centers of the fulcrums and the adjusting shaft being the same for all pitmans, another arm extending from the adjusting shaft in angular relation to the before mentioned arm, an adjusting member in the base engaging the other arm whereby moving the adjusting member toward the pitmans will move the fulcrums toward the sliding shafts and reduce the travel of the sliding shafts while moving the member away from the pitmans will increase the travel of the sliding shafts, and means exterior of the base in cooperation with the adjusting shaft indicative of the amount of variation of the travel of the sliding shafts.

9. A multi-pump unit comprising a base, a pair of water pumps of the piston type mounted thereon, the base having an inlet channel in communication with the inlets of the pumps and an outlet channel in communication with the outlets of the pumps, a water treatment pump operatively connected to one of the water pumps, the base having a channel connecting the outlet of the water treatment pump to the outlet channel of the water pumps, all channels having optional connections at different sides of the base, a pair of fuel oil pumps of the piston type mounted on the base opposite the pair of water pumps and in alignment therewith, the base having a fuel oil inlet channel in communication with the inlets of the fuel oil pumps, and a fuel oil outlet channel in communication with the outlets of the fuel oil pumps, all fuel oil channels having optional connections at different sides of the base, sliding shafts supported by the base having their ends connected to oppositely mounted water and fuel oil pumps, and mechanism within the base for reciprocating the shafts in opposite directions for continuous flow from the water and fuel oil pumps and for varying the travel of the shafts including a crank shaft having two crank pins eccentrically disposed with respect to the axis of the crank shaft and radially at an angle of 180 degrees with respect to each other, an eccentric rod mounted on each of the crank pins, a pitman for each eccentric rod having one end pivotally secured to a sliding shaft and its other end to the eccentric rod, a rotatable adjusting shaft supported in the base having an arm for each pitman extending from it, fulcrums forming the terminals of each arm, a rotatable pin journalled in each fulcrum extending at both sides thereof and having transverse grooves, each pitman comprising a bar at each side of its fulcrum slidingly engaging the grooves of the rotatable pin, the distances between the centers of the fulcrums and the adjusting shaft being the same for all pitmans, another arm extending from the adjusting shaft in angular relation to the before mentioned arm, an adjusting member in the base engaging the other arm whereby moving the adjusting member toward the pitmans Will move the fulcrums toward the sliding shafts and reduce the travel of the sliding shafts while moving the member away from the pitmans will increase the travel of the sliding shafts, and means exterior of the base in cooperation with the adjusting shaft indicative of the amount of variation of the travel of the sliding shafts.

10. A multi-pump and control unit for supplying water, water treatment and fuel oil in predetermined ratios to each other to oil-fired steam generators comprising a base, a pair of water pumps of the piston type mounted thereon, a water treatment pump operatively connected'to one of the water pumps, the water pumps and the water treatment pump having a common outlet channel in the base, a pair of fuel oil pumps f the piston type mounted on the base opposite the pair of water pumps and in alignment therewith, sliding shafts supported by the base having their ends connected to oppositely mounted water and fuel oil pumps, and mechanism within the base for reciprocating the shafts in opposite directions for continuous flow from the water and fuel oil pumps and for varying the travel of the shafts including a crank shaft having two crank pins eccentrically disposed with respect to the axis of the crank shaft and radially at an angle of degrees with respect to each other, an eccentric rod mounted on each of the crank pins, a pitman for each eccentric rod having one end pivotally secured to a sliding shaft and its other end to the eccentric rod, a rotatable adjusting shaft supported in the base having an arm for each pitman extending from it, fulcrums forming the terminals of each arm, a rotatable pin journalled in each fulcrum extending at both sides thereof and having transverse grooves, each pitman comprising a bar at each side of its fulcrum slidingly engaging the grooves of the rotatable pin, the distances between the centers of the fulcrums and the adjusting shaft being the same for all pitmans, another arm extending from the adjusting shaft in angular relation to the before mentioned arm, an adjusting member in the base engaging the other arm whereby moving the adjusting member toward the pitmans will move the fulcrums toward the sliding shafts and reduce the travel of the sliding shafts while moving the member away from the pitmans will increase the travel of the sliding shafts, means exterior of the base in cooperation with the adjusting shaft indicative of the amount of variation of the travel of the sliding shafts, and means operated by the adjusting shaft to regulate air for combustion in an oil burner of the generator in proportion to the varying discharge of the fuel oil pumps.

11. A multi-pump unit comprising a base, a set of pumps mounted on said base, a second set of pumps mounted on said base opposite the first set, one group of said pumps having a common outlet and another group having another common outlet, a plurality of shafts mounted to slide in said base each having its opposite ends connected respectively to oppositely mounted pumps and mechanism within the base for reciprocating said shafts simultaneously in equally spaced phase relation with respect to one another, including means for simultaneously varying the travel of the shafts in the same sense and in the same proportion.

12. A multi-pump unit as defined in claim 11 having a supplementary pump operatively connected to one of the pumps of one of said groups and subject to the same travel adjustments as the pump to which it is so connected.

CARL F. ERIKSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,613,491 Thomas Jan. 4, 1927 1,645,834 Voreaux Oct. 18, 1927 1,860,768 Bohnenblust May 31, 1932 1,908,534 Parsons May 9, 1933 1,909,955 Herbsman May 23, 1933 1,964,028 Boynton et al June 26, 1934 2,070,935 Traut Feb. 16, 1937 2,235,631 Frenkel Mar. 18, 1941 2,268,000 Treer Dec. 30, 1941 2,331,046 Robinson Oct. 5, 1943 

